ML050870148

NRC Verbal Authorization of Relief Requests Pertaining to the Unit 1 Reactor Vessel Head

ML050870148
Person / Time
Site:	Point Beach
Issue date:	05/26/2004
From:	Connolly J Nuclear Management Co
To:	Mccarthy J Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Nuclear Management Co
References
FOIA/PA-2004-0282, NPM 2004-00343
Download: ML050870148 (2)

Text

) .-- l INTERNAL Cotnmittedto HurlcarEicelctfice CORRESPONDENCE NPM 2004-00343 To: James McCarthy From: James W. Connolly Date: May 26,2004 Sul )ject: NRC Verbal Authoriiation of Relief Rcqucsts Pertaining to the Unit I Reactor Vessel Head Copy To: Jim Shaw Jim Schweitzer Gary VanMiddlesworth Ed Weinkam Ron Davenport A telephone conference was held between members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Point Beach Nuclear Plant (PBNP) at approximately 0940 CDT on May 26, 2004.

The subject of this telephone conference was limited to discussion regarding two American Society of Mechanical Engineer's (ASME) Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (Code) relief requests that were previously submitted and supplemented. The following individuals were parties to the telephone conference:

NRC PBNP L. Raghavan J. McCarthy T. Chan J. Connolly H. Chernoff P. Louden D. Karjala M. Holmberg During this telephone conference, the NRC (L. Raghavan) verbally granted approval to P3NP for the subject ASME Code relief requests. The first revised ASME Code Section Xl relief request pertains to the weld repair where the portions of the pressure boundary weld overlap onto portions of the remnant J-groove weld for Penetration 26 of the Unit I reactor vessel. This relief was granted on the basis that that the proposed alternative will provide an acceptable level of quality and safety.

The second relief request pertains to the tack weld installed to facilitate repairs of Penetration 26 under Section III of the ASME Code. This relief was granted on the basis that compliance with the specified requirements would result in a hardship or unusual difficulty without a compensating increase in the level of quality or safety.

It should noted that both relief requests arc approved subject to the following conditions:

1. The relief requests are limited specifically to the Unit I reactor vessel head.

2. The relief requests are limited in scope to nozzle 26 only. - -5

NPM 2004-0273 May 26, 2004 Page 2

3. The relief requests are granted only for the upcoming operating cycle. If a decision is made not to replace the Unit 1 reactor vessel head during the next scheduled refueling outage, PBNP is required to submit a revised Section XI relief request relief to the NRC.

4. PBNP is required to respond to additional requests for information by the NRC until such time that the subject relief requests are formally approved in writing.

The NRC stated that final approval of the subject relief requests will be in writing and may have a broader scope than approved verbally.

It was also identified that NRC Order (EA-03-09) relaxation request is not yet approved at this time. The approval process for the relaxation request is independent from the subject relief requests and that NRC evaluation and approval will be provided in separate written correspondence.